Soony: Busting a Completely New Move

Blending contemporary, hip-hop, and traditional Saudi dance, artist Hassan Soony’s moves are unlike anything you’ve seen before. Dancing since he was six years old, he performed for the first time at the age of 15, never imagining that it would become his primary expression to the world. Today, Soony is proudly making history in his repping of Saudi Arabia, merging Khaleeji movements with diverse influences from around the world to produce a distinct technique that is unmistakably his. 

“It all started when I used to watch my brother dance,” he recalls. “I was young and tried to imitate him, but over time, I realised that movement meant something deeper to me—it became my way of expressing myself and connecting with people in my own way.” Playing with video and digital collage, Soony’s pieces are fresh and artful. 

Rather than one particular project, Soony says the moment that defined his career was the first time he posted his choreography, fearlessly sharing his moves with the world. One of few global ambassadors of Saudi dance, Soony is naturally gifted and technically specific. Grounded and unpredictable, his performances feel boundless, each move flowing into the next. 

Part of the generation putting the wider world of Saudi art and innovation on the map, Soony wants to leave a mark through his unique choreography, and is encouraging his fellow creatives to take up space in its global imagination. His growth comes with a broader goal: to amplify creative voices that the world hasn’t heard from enough. Through dance, he’s bridging gaps between society and art, organically finding himself at the intersection of multiple disciplines—dance, direction, fashion, and content included. 

Collaborating with artists across the kingdom and around the world, Soony wants the creative scene to become “bolder and more open,” with greater opportunities for young artists to express themselves and explore freely. Currently working on a new cinematic project, Soony values sincerity and “real feeling” in art; he cites his inspirations as anyone who lives their creativity with real honesty. 

“Dance is freedom,” he reflects. “Movement has the power to free us from our own fears, embodying art’s lack of parameters and its power to connect people, communities, and cultures.” An embodiment of his creative community, Soony says his goal is to platform Saudi art, engaging it in the global conversation while “maintaining its local essence”.